Important Technical Note for Parents

This browser version of Komodo uses a plugin technology called Adobe Flash. This year Google and Microsoft stopped embedding Flash into their Chrome and Internet Explorer browsers which means you’ll have to manage installing and updating Flash Player yourself. You can do this here.

but we've made a better way to use Komodo on your computer . .

New Komodo Windows and Mac apps (programs) are now available to download and install on your computer. These apps don't require Flash and they provide a better experience all round. Simply install and log in!

Chunking - a guide to the new long division

The way long division is taught in schools has changed and the chances are that when your son or daughter mentions dividing by chunking you'll be baffled.

But don't worry you've come to the right place for help and the good news is that it really is quite simple.

So why change long division to chunking?

Chunking is the new method for long division that's been taught in UK schools for the last 10 years or so.

So what's wrong good old long division? I hear you ask - Well quite a bit. The main issue is that long division provided answers, but without understanding. To kids it was like some kind of mathematical voodoo - do this, do that, then this and your answer goes here . .

And what's wrong with that? Well educationally, it's much better if kids understand where the answer comes from.

Hold on let's not start reminiscing about good old long division - let's face it have you ever used it since school? It's slow, clunky and hard to remember.

So what is chunking?

Chunking is the new way to divide big numbers. The idea is scary but it's really quite simple.

You can think of it like this: Imagine someone gave you 620 sweets to share between 14 kids. You don't have to know the exact answer to start sharing - you simply start handing them out in chunks making sure you don't exceed the total.

So you start by giving out say 20 each - that's 280 gone and 340 left. So you give out 20 again. That's another 280 gone, 560 gone in total, and there's 60 left. Finally, you give out 4 each ( 14 lots of 4 = 56 ) and there's a remainder of 4.

The answer to 620 divided by 14 is 20 + 20 + 4 = 44 reminder 4. Each child gets 44 sweets and they fight over the remaining 4.

The Komodo level "dividing big numbers" teaches division by chunking. See part of the guidance video above.

That's all there is to chunking. You've almost certainly used it already!

About Komodo - Komodo is a fun and effective way to boost primary maths skills. Designed for 5 to 11 year olds to use in the home, Komodo uses a little and often approach to learning maths (15 minutes, three to five times per week) that fits into the busy routine. Komodo users develop fluency and confidence in maths - without keeping them at the screen for long.